A narrow depression or opening; a groove, notch, slit, or aperture. Used especially of a passage in a wall, door, or gate. He dropped a coin into the slot. An interior position in a building or other structure, such as a seat on an airplane, a spot in the orchestra, or the chief copy editor’s slot. Also, a period of time in a schedule or sequence: We booked a haircut for the 2 p.m. slot.
A slot can also refer to a position or space in a computer, especially a random-access memory device that can contain multiple files and is accessed randomly or sequentially. It can also refer to a location in the computer that is allocated for a particular function, such as the slot that holds the operating system and applications.
Historically, slot machines used mechanical reels to display and determine results. But in the 1980s, manufacturers incorporated electronics and began using programming to weight specific symbols. This allowed for more combinations and higher jackpots, but it reduced the odds of hitting certain symbols — and thus the payout amounts.
Researchers have long sought to understand what makes slot games successful. Cody Herrick, director of game design for SG Technology, says his company uses data to examine player behavior in order to create better slots that will appeal to players and increase casino profitability. Other firms, like ReelMetrics, use analytics to scrutinize existing games for clues about what players are seeking when they play them.